Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

York City 1 Altrincham 2

What a way to bounce back from the disappointment of bowing out of the Isuzu FA Trophy as Altrincham dented York City's hopes of automatic promotion but significantly enhanced their own prospects of again figuring in the play-offs with an immense three points at the LNER Community Stadium.

Wembley may be off the menu for the Robins in the Trophy but don't bet against a trip to English football's national stadium for Phil Parkinson and his players in the promotion final after the way any fears of fatigue setting in were banished by a performance full of commitment and a resilience that saw them through a late bout of York pressure.

An own goal by Josh Stones, who inadvertently deflected a Lewis Baines header over the line, gave Alty the lead, and though Alex Hunt fired a spectacular equaliser early in the second half, the Robins were on course for a 10th successive game without defeat against York when substitute Justin Amaluzor glanced home an excellent chipped pass from Elliot Osborne in the 75th minute.

Brimming with confidence, as might be expected, Regan Linney wasted no time trying to add to his tally of goals this season as he tested keeper Harrison Male in only the second minute.

The bang-in-form Alty frontrunner brilliantly controlled a ball that dropped over his shoulder on the left flank and made it to the bye-line before cutting inside and drilling an angled shot that Male parried to safety.

When Linney was crowded out in the eighth minute, the ball fell to Osborne, who unleashed a first-time volley from 20 yards that flew narrowly over.

With Rob Lainton safely holding on to a glancing header in between, it was a lively start by both sides.

Lainton was called into action again in the 13th minute when one-time Alty winger Tyrese Sinclair set up Cam John for a fiercely-struck drive that the Robins keeper beat away diving to his left.

Strength and persistence by Joe Nuttall earned Alty a free-kick on the left in the 25th minute, and it led to the Robins going in front.

Osborne delivered the set-piece to the far post, where Baines won the aerial duel with a header that struck Stones and crept inside the right-hand post.

A celebrating Baines took the acclaim of his Alty team-mates, but it had to go down as an own goal by the York forward, given the effort by Alty's skipper looked to be heading wide of the far post.

York were back on terms in the 49th minute, as Hunt produced a clever turn that opened up space for an unstoppable curler of a shot from 25 yards that gave Lainton no chance as it sped past him into the top corner.

Another similar effort from Hunt in the 56th minute might have spelled further trouble for the Robins but for Lainton taking off to his left to turn it away.

York substitute Junior Luamba made inroads down the left in the 70th minute, but Lainton was alive to the danger as he reacted swiftly to claim the winger's dangerous low cross before it could reach a red shirt in the middle.

Not everything had gone Linney's way in what was turning into a frustrating evening for Alty's prolific top scorer, but he exploded into life with an eye-catching piece of skill in the 74th minute.

Latching on to a flick by Alex Newby, Linney hammered a shot from 25 yards that swerved and caused Male all sorts of problems, as the keeper just about managed to stop it flying into the net.

It was only a temporary reprieve for the home side as Alty restored their lead a minute later.

It was all down to an immaculately measured chip from Osborne and anticipation from Amaluzor, who read his team-mate's intentions and ghosted in front of advancing keeper Male to glance the ball into an empty net off what appeared to be his right shoulder.

Alty had a couple of half-chances to increase their advantage, and when they failed to take them, it needed some desperate defending to keep the lead intact.

Ollie Pearce looked sure to score when the ball fell to him eight yards out in the 80th minute, but his goalbound volley was heroically kept out by covering defender Jake Cooper, who somehow managed to deflect it behind.

From the resulting corner, a towering far post header by Callum Howe rattled the crossbar when a goal again seemed certain.

It was the nearest York came to a second equaliser, as the Robins stood firm in magnificent fashion to record what was an outstanding three points.

York Male; Howe (c), Sinclair (King, 66'), Hunt, Pearce, Armstrong (John-Lewis, 57'), Batty (Luamba, 66'), John, Felix, Stones, Fagan-Walcott. Subs not used: Watson, Richardson, Chadwick, Aguiar.

Altrincham Lainton; Banks, Baines (c), Cooper, Osborne, Marriott (Amaluzor, 61'), Linney (Pasiek, 83'), Newby, Crawford, Golden, Nuttall (Bickerstaff, 71'). Subs not used: Kosylo, Griffiths, Reddin, Ansen. 

HT 0-1

Goals Hunt 49' | Stones (OG) 25', Amaluzor 75'

Yellows Stones 43', John 63' | Marriott 38', Lainton 79', Osborne 85'

Reds None | None

Referee James O'Connor

Assistants Tom Harland & Stephen Rushworth

Fourth official Gareth Thomas

Attendance 6,356 (146 away)

Next Up

We head for Essex on Saturday to take on Southend United at Roots Hall (3pm).

For full ticket and away travel details click here.